A sexy M&S food porn ad, a hit single with Jess Glynne and a rather marvellous Glastonbury set - these are just some of the credentials that musical whizzes Clean Bandit have to their name. The four-piece band from Cambridge have gone from organising their own gigs on the festival circuit to playing a headline set on the Other Stage - and have maintained and developed their own unique sound along the way...
We had a chat with Grace Chatto, aka cello-player extraordinaire - and the only lady in the group. When we spoke, Grace was on her way to Shoreditch House to go chill by the pool while mentally preparing for her upcoming set at Croatia Rocks.
So read on, to find out what me and Grace have in common (Craig David!), what she’d most like to ask Miley Cyrus and why running gear is the festival outfit du jour….
So, you totally rocked Glasto. How did it feel?
Nothing can really beat Glastonbury because it was just such a euphoric feeling and such a beautiful day and amazing crowd. It’s kind of quite scary playing at Glastonbury, it feels like it’s the most kind of important thing this year so I was a tiny bit nervous before but when I went on, it was just so fun and we all had such a good time - it was perfect.
You used to be a bit of a party animal didn’t you...What was the first festival you ever went to?
Glastonbury was the first festival I went to when I was like 16 and I remember watching Air on The Other Stage and it was raining and I was in a bit of a wild stage of my life. It was so nice to be back there and playing.
So you’ve been to a few festivals, I take it?
I went to Glastonbury a couple of times, then I went to Secret Garden Party a few times. Some of the first gigs I got for the band were at Secret Garden Party, like seven or eight years ago. But they were quite different to the gigs that I do now, we were obviously on in such tiny tents!
How does it compare, the experience of playing then compared to now?
Now, I’m much more relaxed because in the first few years I was kind of organising everything and trying to make sure everyone was there and that we had all the equipment so we had no one else in charge. I was managing every aspect. Where as now we have a tour manager and all that stuff so
it was much more intense and I had much more to worry about - whereas now I just get told where to be by someone. And just play my cello which I love to do and it’s a much more relaxing experience, even though the crowds are much bigger!
Relaxing? Playing in front of thousands of people? Really?
It’s nice as well because - you know people are going to be at - well you can’t know for sure but - when Rather Be came out, when we play that we know everyone is going to have a good time.
Give us your best festival tips...
Suncream is so important. Flip flops, wellies… and if you’re a girl I’d say don’t wear long dresses.
What have you been wearing at festivals recently?
This year I wore like a running outfit which worked really well - I had running leggings and a sports bra because it was so hot - and that’s like really comfy.
That’s genius. Now, what’s this I hear about you hanging out with Craig David. I’m a huge fan. Are you a huge fan too?
I have been a fan growing up and so have other members of the band and when we were performing in Miami I wrote to him on Twitter and asked if he’d like to come to our gig and I didn’t expect him to reply but he replied saying he had just flown in from London and when we arrived at the gig he was just there. And then we went back to his house and hung out. And we had a really fun night.
Well jel. So apart from Craig David, have you got any other unlikely heroes or heroines?
Miley Cyrus - I don’t know if she’s unlikely though. But I am a big fan of her school of feminist thought. And also of her voice.
What would you ask her if put her on the phone right now?
Would you make a song with us? Because I think we could make something really great. I think she’s such a brilliant writer and singer. There’s so many things I’d like to ask her.
What’s it like being in a band with three other guys?
Fine. I don’t really like see myself as different from them in terms of gender, but also we tour with a lot of female vocalists. But as I say I don’t really see girls different to boys as such.
Clean Bandit are playing at Croatia Rocks, 19-23 July.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.